Container carrier

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to improvements in manually transportable carriers for accommodating a plurality of containers, as for example bottles and the like, and more particularly to container carriers of the reusable type comprised of a single foldable sheet. An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises a novel foldable sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers, and a vertically disposed central wall section the upper portion of which provides a handle. Sidewalls extend upwardly from the outer margins of the bottom sections, the upper portions of which telescopically accommodate the handle. The sidewall sections are provided with vertically elongate container-receiving openings defined by edges of predetermined shape positioned to engage the peripheries of supported containers for securing said containers against lateral displacement.

United States Patent [191 Klygis et al.

[ June 28, 1974 1 1 CONTAINER CARRIER [73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 219,328

[52] US. Cl 206/166, 220/105, 220/115, 229/52 BC, 206/174 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 75/00 [58] Fieldof Search 220/115, 116, 118, 105, 220/109, 110,111, 112, 113, 114, 102,D1G. 15; 229/ 52 BC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,304,683 12/1942 Finn et al 220/113 2,329,800 9/1943 Warren 229/52 BC X 2,382,844 8/1945 Arneson 220/112 2,527,025 10/1950 Morgan 220/115 3,333,729 8/1967 Rabb 220/116 3,359,873 12/1967 Carle ct al. 220/102 X Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd.

[ 5 7 1 ABSTRACT The present invention relates generally to improvements in manually transportable carriers for accommodating a plurality of containers, as for example bottles and the like, and more particularly to container carriers of the reusable type comprised of a single foldable sheet. An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises a novel foldable sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers, and a vertically disposed central wall section the upper portion of which provides a handle. Sidewalls extend upwardly from the outer margins of the bottom sections, the upper portions of which telescopically accommodate the handle. The sidewall sections are provided with vertically elongate container-receiving openings defined by edges of predetermined shape positioned to engage the peripheries of supported containers for securing said containers against lateral displacement.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUNZB mm Q 3820 657 SHEEI 2 OF 3 PATENTEDJUHZB 1914 (820.65?

saw a or 3 1 CONTAINER CARRIER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned primarily with improvements in container carriers of the manually transportable type adapted to support a plurality of rows of containers such as bottles and the like. The term six pack has been in common use to identify a manually transportable carrier for containers, such as bottles, cans, and the like. Some of the six pack type carriers heretofore available are not reusable, because of the mutilation of the carrier which occurs as the containers are removed. It is also important that in order to render a carrier reusable it must be so designed as to enable the removal of the normal accumulation of soil, stain, etc. Another significant factor to be considered in the production of multi-pack containers of the type contemplated by the present invention is to assure compactness when in folded condition to facilitate storage and shipment thereof.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a multi-pack container of novel, collapsible and expandable form which will greatly facilitate the ease with which containers may be inserted within the expanded carrier and subsequently removed therefrom so as to permit subsequent collapsing of the carrier to a relatively small, flat multi-ply structure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel, container carrier of the type set forth above which may be produced very economically. To this end it is contemplated that suitable sheet plastic material may be employed requiring a minimum quantity of sheet stock without sacrificing carrier strength and without impairing efficiency in the retention of containers supported thereby.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a container carrier formed from a single sheet of stock in which a unique arrangement of apertured sidewalls of the container function to permit convenient insertion and withdrawal of containers and protect the containers against lateral displacement.

The present invention also contemplates a carrier device of improved practical construction wherein a novel arrangement ofa readily foldable plastic sheet of relatively light weight conveniently washable material may be employed in the fabrication thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of carrier contemplated by the present invention having a plurality of containers in the form of bottles associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the arrangement disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carrier device and associated bottles illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a sheet plastic blank which may be folded so as to assume the container carrying relation illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view after the plastic sheet blank of FIG. 4 has been folded into flat relation in readiness to be expanded for accommodating a plurality of bottles;

.FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the completely collapsed carrier device shown in FIG. 5, illustrating the compactness of the carrier when in collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the relative position of the multi-ply parts during the initial. partial expansion of the container accommodating sidewalls of the carrier;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the carrier device illustrated in FIG. 7 more clearly to illustrate the manner in which the upper margins of the sidewall sections are joined by heat seals and provide an opening therebetween for telescopically accommodating the handle of the carrier;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of carrier contemplated by the present invention, an upper portion of one of the sidewall sections and handle thereof being broken away for clarity of disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sheet plastic blank which may be folded to produce the container carrier device illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. I1 is an enlarged, perspective view of the upper portion of the carrier illustrated in FIG. 9, with the handle thereof disclosed in partial telescopic association with the opening or slit provided along the upper juncture of the sidewall sections; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the bottom portion of the carrier illustrated in FIG. 9 before it has been expanded to accommodate a plurality of bottles, said view illustrating the heat sealed areas of the central wall sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of a container carrying device of the type contemplated by the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive is designated generally by the numeral 14. A foldable blank of sheet material, preferably plastic sheet stock, is illustrated in FIG. 4. In order to more readily understand the function and structure of the various sections or parts of the plastic sheet blank when in its folded, containeraccommodating position, reference will now be made to the disclosure in FIG. 4. A central transverse fold line, designated by the dot-and-dash line 16, divides the blank into two identical units, designated generally by the letters X and Y. Intermediate transverse bottom sections of the units X and Y are designated by the numerals 18 and 20, respectively. The section 18 is provided with a row of apertures 22, and the section 20 is provided with a row of similar apertures 24. As will later be explained, the elongate transverse sections 18 and 20 form the support for the bottom of a plurality of containers or bottles 30.

Extending from the outer margin of the containersupporting section 18 is a sidewall. section 26, and extending from the outer margin of the elongate bottle supporting section 20 is a similar oppositely disposed sidewall section 28. Elongate vertically disposed apertures 32 in the sidewall section 28 are of predetermined shape to accommodate the above-mentioned bottles 30 after the plastic sheet blank has been folded and expanded to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive. Likewise, the sidewall section 28 is provided with similar container accommodating recesses 34. Extending from the inner margin of the elongate bottom section 18 is a central section 36, and extending from the inner margin of the adjacent elongate bottom section 20 is a corresponding central section 38. These sections 36 and 38, when brought into contact with each other by folding along the dot-and-dash line 16, provide registering hand-accommodating handle apertures 40 and 42, respectively.

The manner in which the plastic sheet blank illustrated in FIG. 4 may be folded and laterally expanded to accommodate the bottles 30 will now be described. The central wall sections 36 and 38 are first folded along the line 16 so as to bring said sections into abutting relation, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The elongate section 18 is now folded along a dot-and-dash line designated by the numeral 44, and the elongate section 20 is similarly folded along a dot-anddash line 46, so as to bring the bottom sections 18 and 20, together with their adjacent wall sections 26 and 28, respectively, into engagement with the outer surfaces of their respective central sections 36 and 38. When thus folded, the sections will appear as illustrated in FIGS. and 6, namely as a compact four-ply sheet arrangement. With the above-described sections thus folded, the upper abutting margins ofthe sidewall sections 26 and 28 may be joined by heat sealing in areas designated by numerals 48 and 50, FIG. 5. Similarly, the lower abutting margins of the central sections 36 and 38 may be joined as by heat sealing in the areas designated by the numerals 52 and 54. The presence of the apertures 22 and 24 makes it possible to perform this heat sealing operation without affecting any other portion of the sheet stock.

Attention is now directed to additional fold lines 56 and 58 in the unit X and corresponding fold lines 60 and 62 of the unit Y, said fold areas being designated by dot-and-dash lines. When the outer sections of the sheet material are expanded laterally from the flat position illustrated in FIG. 6 toward the partially expanded position illustrated in FIG. 7, and ultimately to the final position of expansion illustrated in FIG. 2, the functional significance of the fold lines 56, 58, 60 and 62 will be more apparent.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that as the sidewall sections 26 and 28 are moved outwardly or laterally from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the vertical elongate openings 32 and 34 are conditioned for receiving the containers 30. When the containers 30 are positioned within these apertures, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, the edges of the sheet material defining the apertures 32 and 34 are so shaped as to substantially conform with and engage the peripheries of the containers and thereby prevent lateral displacement thereof. To prevent the dislodgment of containers 30 positioned at each extremity of the rows thereof, a narrow strip 64 is sheared from the end margin of the sidewall section 26, and a similar narrow strip 66 is sheared from the opposite side of sidewall section 28 and heat sealed at the area designated by the numeral 68, FIG. 2. Similar strips 70 and 72 are sheared from the opposite extremity of the sidewall sections 26 and 28 and are joined at 74, as by heat sealing. It will thus be apparent that the presence of the strips 64 and 66 at one extremity and the corresponding strips 70 and 72 at the opposite extremity will prevent dislodgment of the containers 30 in the vicinity thereof. During the lateral expansion of the sidewall sections 26 and 28 the upper margins of said sidewalls move downwardly, thereby exposing the registering hand-accommodating apertures 40 and 42, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. Relative telescopic movement of the sidewall sections from the central sections 36 and 38 is limited by reason of shoulders 76 on the central section 36 and corresponding shoulders 78 on the central section 38. These shoulders are adapted to engage the heat-sealed portions 48 and 50, and thereby limit the extent of relative shifting of the upper margin of the sidewall sections 26-28 and the central abutting wall sections 3638.

In FIGS. 9 and 12, inclusive, a modified form of plastic sheet type carrier contemplated by the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 14a. As previously described, the carrier 14 is produced from a strip in which the handle portions of the carrier are joined along a fold line 16, whereas the blank from which the carrier 14a is produced, as illustrated in FIG. 10, positions the handle portions at the opposite extremities and incorporates a fold line 16a at the juncture ofsidewall section 26a and 28a. Doband-dash fold lines corresponding with the fold lines previously described in connection with the plastic sheet blank in FIG. 4 are given similar identifying numerals bearing the suffix a. Likewise, all other structural features corresponding with the structures of the carrier 14 are identified with similar numbers bearing the suffix The blank of the carrier 14a is initially folded along the line 16a and the handle portions are threaded through a slit or opening 80, so as to ultimately occupy the position illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11. It will be apparent that the container carrier 14a incorporates structural and functional advantages previously set forth in the description of the carrier 14.

The container carriers 14 and are readily collapsible to assume the compact flat relation illustrated in FIG. 6, thus rendering the carriers convenient for the purpose of storage or shipment. The sidewall sections are conveniently and instantaneously expandable to condition the carrier for accommodating containers. Likewise, upon removal of the containers the carrier may be collapsed into flat compact form. Also, the design ofthe carrier contemplated hereby is such as to enable convenient heat sealing at readily available exposed areas. It will also be apparent that the present invention contemplates the provision of a very practical and inexpensive returnable bottle carrier. By employing suitable high density polyethylene sheet material or the like, the carrier described herein may be very expeditiously die cut from a strip of plastic sheet stock, folded and heat sealed. Plastic sheet material may also be cleaned or washed with convenience, thereby facilitating the reusability of the device.

It has been found practical to have the containeraccommodating openings of substantially teardrop shape. In other words, each opening is defined by a pair of ledges of sheet stock which diverge upwardly.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sections in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section. the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein said sheet comprises heat sealable plastic stock and wherein the upper margins of the sidewall sections are heat sealed at spaced intervals providing an opening therebetween for telescopically accommodating the handle.

2. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sections in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the other longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges ofthe sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein the elongate bottom sections are apertured so as to expose the bottom margins of the central wall section when the carrier device is in collapsed condition thereby to facilitate heat sealing thereof.

3. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sec tions in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening; for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein the side marginal edges of said sidewall sections and said bottom sections are provided with strips buckled toward one another to prevent dislodgement of said containers from the sides of said carrier device, one end of each of said strips integrally connected to one of said side marginal edges of said sidewall sections intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, and the other end of each of said strips integrally connected to one of said side marginal edges of said bottom sections intermediate the inner and outer ends thereof to span the sides of said carrier device.

4. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, marginal portions of said sidewall sections and said bottom sections being slit to form a pair of strips at each side of said carrier device, and means joining each pair of strips intermediate the ends thereof.

5. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single fold sheet, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sheet com-prises heat scalable plastic stock, and said last mentioned means comprises a heat seal. 

1. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sections in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein said sheet comprises heat sealable plastic stock and wherein the upper margins of the sidewall sections are heat sealed at spaced intervals providing an opening therebetween for telescopically accommodating the handle.
 2. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sections in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the other longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein the elongate bottom sections are apertured so as to expose the bottom margins of the central wall section when the carrier device is in collapsed condition thereby to facilitate heat sealing thereof.
 3. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single foldable sheet of heat sealable plastic stock for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, said wall sections in the vicinity of said elongate bottom sections being joined by heat seals, and a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, said bottom, central and sidewall sections being collapsible into a folded flat structure when no containers are associated therewith, and wherein the side marginal edges of said sidewall sections and said bottom sections are provided with strips buckled toward one another to prevent dislodgement of said containers from the sides of said carrier device, one end of each of said strips integrally connected to one of said side marginal edges of said sidewall sections intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, and the other end of each of said strips integrally connected to one of said side marginal edges of said bottom sections intermediate the inner and outer ends thereof to span the sides of said carrier device.
 4. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device cOmprised of a single foldable sheet for accommodating a plurality of containers, said sheet including adjacently positioned, substantially parallel elongate bottom sections for supporting the bottom surfaces of a plurality of containers disposed in adjacent rows, a vertically disposed central wall section extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal margins of said bottom sections and terminating in an upper substantially central handle, a sidewall section extending upwardly from the outer longitudinal margin of each bottom section, the upper portions of said sidewall sections defining an opening for telescopically accommodating said handle, said sidewall sections having a plurality of vertically elongate container receiving openings defined by edges of the sheet stock, said edges being contoured and positioned to engage the container peripheries for securing such containers against lateral displacement, marginal portions of said sidewall sections and said bottom sections being slit to form a pair of strips at each side of said carrier device, and means joining each pair of strips intermediate the ends thereof.
 5. A reusable and readily collapsible type carrier device comprised of a single fold sheet, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sheet comprises heat sealable plastic stock, and said last mentioned means comprises a heat seal. 